The new president of the National University of Ireland, Galway, Prof Iognaid O Muircheartaigh (57), has been registrar and deputy president of the college for the last two years.
He is an associate professor of statistics attached to the Department of Mathematics, where he has worked since 1970. From Dublin, he holds BA and MA degrees from University College, Dublin and a Phd from the University of Glasgow.
Mr O Muircheartaigh grew up speaking Irish and said yesterday one of his major aims would be to create a multi-lingual campus at Galway. He said the other one was to consolidate the research success the university has had in recent years.
He is one of the university's most prolific researchers and has produced more than 70 academic papers at seminars.
He is a member of the Senate of the National University of Ireland, a director of the Central Applications Office and is Cathaoirleach of the Irish universities' Quality Steering Committee.
Prof O Muircheartaigh has been involved in Galway NUI's research programme O Muircheartaigh and has been a member of the governing authority of the university for several years.
Married with three daughters, he will begin his 10-year term on August 1st.